The Edmonton Oilers have not yet released their training camp roster. Steve Tambellini told the media that 64 men will be in camp. The list is about the same as last years (63), very young, full of tall trees (especially on the blue) and flush with boys from the Western league. This is a list you might want to pay close attention to--many of these kids are going to be around for a long, long time.

I believe this to be the list.

GOAL

Nikolai Khabibulin: If he's healthy and a free man, NK is easily the class of the group.

Devan Dubnyk: The backup job will be hotly contested. Dubnyk is a big goaltender with solid mechanics and a reputation for steady play.

Jeff Deslauriers: More athletic than DD, Deslauriers is the more experienced hand. The Oilers will probably have to risk waivers on one of Dubnyk or Deslauriers this fall. A trade is possible.

Martin Gerber: Health is a concern (he missed a big part of the season one year ago) but he's a solid insurance policy for the things that might happen at the top of the roster.

Bryan Pitton: Tall, lean goalie is likely destined for time in Stockton and Oklahoma City this season.

Olivier Roy: May well pass DD and JDD as the "goalie of the future" with a strong TC and WJC.

CENTER

Sam Gagner: The scene is set for young Gagner to emerge as the top offensive contributor at center. If he stumbles the Oilers do have some options.

Andrew Cogliano: Unlike Souray's situation, it appears both player and organization have decided to commit to making this thing work. Renney feels he can use Cogs in a 2-way role, and his speed suggests that this player could be a solid PK contributor. There's a player here.

Shawn Horcoff: The Gagner bump allows the team to hard match Horcoff against the Sedin-level opposition from the other team. I think the club may also play a responsible rookie with him (perhaps Eberle) as Horcoff begins his "Stan Weir as mentor" role for the young group.

Colin Fraser: He could line up on the 3rd or 4th line and should get a lot of playing time in a defensive role. Fraser is one of the newcomers the team will rely on to pick up the slack left when veterans like Pisani left town.

Ryan O'Marra: Oilers love his skill set as it perfectly fits the current need: a checking C with some grit. I question his ability to hit above the Mendoza line offensively but the club likes him and there's a solid chance he makes the team.

Chris Vande Velde: Extremely likely to spend an extended period in the minors, but his career path is somewhat similar to Horcoff who spent half a season in the minors. Older than the other top level prospects, so it is important that he impress.

Brad Moran: Veteran minor leaguer has posted numbers wherever he's been, including a solid 2 years in Sweden 2008-10. Could surprise but likely to play in OKC this season.

Jared Aulin: C-W has played in the NHL (LA before the lockout). He has endured some injuries over the years and was out of organized hockey from fall 2008 through October 2010 when he signed with Syracuse (AHL) and began the climb back to the NHL (hopefully).

Milan Kytnar: Young man brings plenty of 2-way skills to the table, and as such is somewhat unique on this hockey club. He could land anywhere in the minor league system, this is a huge TC for his future.

Ryan Martindale: Skilled player with some consistency issues.

Chase Schaber: Skill prospect willing to drop the gloves.

Last season, there were 9. Gone are Marc Pouliot, Chris Minard, Rob Schremp and Geoff Paukovich.

LEFT WING

Dustin Penner: Oilers have a big body on the top 6, and he's dynamite.

Taylor Hall: Gifted player with heart and swagger. He'll own the city by November.

Magnus Pääjärvi: I wonder if he will move to RW during the season (or Hall to center) should the three horsemen find chem on the same line. Either way, he's a stud.

Ryan Jones: Young man has some power-forward in him and a real chance to spend some time in the top 6 this season. Can he be the modern Brett Callighen?

JF Jacques: Mixture of size and speed is opium to hockey management. Appears unable to take and make a pass, which hinders his ability to impact the game in a positive way. NOTE: As per Jason Gregor in a comment below: JF Jacques will not be ready at the start of camp, and is doubtful to be ready to start the regular season. He still hasn't fully recovered.

Linus Omark: He's going to turn some heads. If he'd come over a year ago, Omark would be established with the organization by now.

Alexandre Giroux: Possibly the best scorer in the minors over the last several seasons. Has a legit shot at spending an extended period with the big club.

Gregory Stewart: Big body for the minor league team. If he moves up this depth chart enough to make the team, Edmonton will have had another injury plagued training camp.

Teemu Hartikainen: Gritty player who could come quickly to the show. Offers unique qualities (grit, willingness to sacrifice) and might end up being that 2-way LW this team needs so badly.

Philippe Cornet: I've had a long look at him over at the other blog, and Cornet looks like a tweener to math (my overlord). That doesn't mean he won't have an NHL career, but his best chance is to find some chem with one of the gifted kids.

Matt Marquardt: Big body had a fine ECHL playoff and may find a role with OKC.

RIGHT WING

Ales Hemsky: A healthy season is required from this player. Hemsky will have lots of help for the entertainment section, but the kids will give up as much as they deliver. It falls to Hemsky (and Penner) to be the difference makers on the skill lines.

Gilbert Brule: Has an outstanding opportunity to build on that giant leap forward last season. If Brule can find a home on a skill line and score 20+ goals he could be a big part of the future in EDM.

Jordan Eberle: The only question now is what line does he play on? I think a 'kid line' or a line in which he plays with an established center is the most likely. Smart player, may be asked to fill an important 2-way role.

Zack Stortini: Tough winger who has done everything asked and then some in a 4-line role. May be asked to move up the depth chart at times this season and to PK.

Steve MacIntyre: The designated enforcer, Renney says he wants SMAC to play more than 3 minutes a night.

Liam Reddox: This player will impress the coach from day one and could make the team in a support role. Does lots of little things right, doesn't bleed the other way.

Colin McDonald: Technically signed to an AHL contract, I believe he'll be on the list. Checker.

Ben Ondrus: Energy winger headed to OKC.

Cameron Abney: Enforcer of the future looks like he's on track.

Mike Thomas: resume is similar to Abney's although this player is older and more mature, plus a little more skilled.

James Livingston: Livingston seems to have some positives (size, grit, some skill) in areas the Oilers have needs.

Of the 63 names from last year's list, 33 are gone from the organization. I believe this to be the list, please correct mistakes and I'll update when the official list is released.

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The right time to have six question marks in your top nine? I don't think there is a right time for that.

You seem to be looking at this on the micro-level: "okay, it's time for Sam Gagner to take a step forward." That's fair enough. "Okay, it's time for Andrew Cogliano to take a step forward." That too. "Okay, it's time to let Jordan Eberle break into the NHL." Fine with me. All of those things, individually, are reasonable. But having them all together on the same team in the same year is madness.

If most were under 20 I would agree, but the realy young guy's will be protected and if there not ready, 2 can go to OKC. 4 horrible years for Pitt, 3 for Washington and multiple years for Chicago, Carolina, T.B and their core guys were almost all out of junior, the true elite prospects are not ruined in tough times, they persivere. Remember when Mike Therien called his Penguins the softest team he had ever seen, they had Leclair,Pallfy , Lemiuex and Recchi that year, Veteren line up, they got rid of them or they retired except Recchi,the next year they added more rookies (Stall,Malkin, Letang) and actually made the playoffs. The Oilers prospects aren't much diferent in age.

It can't get worse than last year, Cog's was a better player at the end of the year playing top 6-9 minutes than being sheltered with Stortini on the 4th line, so was Brule.

If MPS and Eberle are overwelmned, they can be replaced with Giroux and Reddoux but if you bring someone in now Cog's would probobly pay the price, and he's ready to put up or get out of town.

Far from madness, 1 veteren fwd and cement boots Mackee will make it a sane enviroment? Especially since there taking two 23 year old 4 year pro's spots, I doubt it, but thats your opinion.

How will outsiders probably look at the 2010-2011 edition of the Oilers?
Three major problem areas:
1) Goaltending. Reliance on Khabibulin, old, injury-prone, problem with the law and alcohol. No NHL-quality backup.
2) Centres. No first line centre, no third line shutdown centre. Poor on face-offs, under-sized.
3) Defence. Maybe 2 quality defencemen and a bunch of question marks/projects.
Position in Western Conference:
13-15 place. (Unfortunately, not much respect here.)
Expectations:
Low expectations all-around. (The club could surprise.)

If most were under 20 I would agree, but the realy young guy's will be protected and if there not ready, 2 can go to OKC. 4 horrible years for Pitt, 3 for Washington and multiple years for Chicago, Carolina, T.B and their core guys were almost all out of junior, the true elite prospects are not ruined in tough times, they persivere. Remember when Mike Therien called his Penguins the softest team he had ever seen, they had Leclair,Pallfy , Lemiuex and Recchi that year, Veteren line up, they got rid of them or they retired except Recchi,the next year they added more rookies (Stall,Malkin, Letang) and actually made the playoffs. The Oilers prospects aren't much diferent in age.

It can't get worse than last year, Cog's was a better player at the end of the year playing top 6-9 minutes than being sheltered with Stortini on the 4th line, so was Brule.

If MPS and Eberle are overwelmned, they can be replaced with Giroux and Reddoux but if you bring someone in now Cog's would probobly pay the price, and he's ready to put up or get out of town.

Far from madness, 1 veteren fwd and cement boots Mackee will make it a sane enviroment? Especially since there taking two 23 year old 4 year pro's spots, I doubt it, but thats your opinion.

Giroux and Reddox are two players who have never shown the ability to consistently succeed at the NHL level. They're question marks.

Also, who said that the veterans would be taking 23 year olds' spots? McKee wouldn't be taking out Smid, who I assume is the guy you're talking about, and another veteran forward would be more likely to bump a rookie out of the top nine than Cogliano.

Would two more veterans make everything okay? Of course not, but it would make things a hell of a lot better than they are now.

correction: apparently DiPietro took batting practice with the Mets yesterday...he's ready to go to camp and start (albeit three years late) to earn some of the 67 mill in these next now 12years ... sorry JFJ i was just sayin'>>>>>>

Laforge was mentioning on the Team this morning that there are 68 players?

I'll add that he was also talking about the fact that in the end they decided to bring all the kids into the main training camp. I guess at one time they were going to make cuts, but decided it might be better for these kids to see what they need to do to make the next step.

He also said something about pitlick playing a pro game, not sure if he meant pre-season or what.

Giroux and Reddox are two players who have never shown the ability to consistently succeed at the NHL level. They're question marks.

Also, who said that the veterans would be taking 23 year olds' spots? McKee wouldn't be taking out Smid, who I assume is the guy you're talking about, and another veteran forward would be more likely to bump a rookie out of the top nine than Cogliano.

Would two more veterans make everything okay? Of course not, but it would make things a hell of a lot better than they are now.

I don't care if Giroux and Reddox aren't ready
and make you lose more thats actually a bonus (High pick). They are there to shelter players and take the fall if the young guys aren't ready now, and they aren't a part of the future anyways.

I don't think Mckee wouldn't take away development from Smid, but might from Peckam and Bell.

I would rather lose with players in there early 20's with some vet's instead of being mediocere with more vet's. Under 20's can go to the minors or juniors if they are not ready.

OK I typed ....did Eberle call MPS maggie in an interview after the last game in Penticton?

is that MPS's team mates' nickname now...?

can i ask that here ?

Speaking of nicknames, from now on I will use "Bananas Foster" for Kurtis Foster and "Creme Brule" for Gilbert Brule. They will both be deserts because they will both have "sweet" seasons. Props to Principe!

I'm going out on a limb and saying Team C wins the Joey Moss Cup. Decent forwards, reasonable D, and goaltending that's good enough to pass. The other two teams have obvious depth problems on either the blueline or upfront. I'd love to watch the scrimmages.

I was just about to say. With the top three lines on Team C having real centermen, Hall won't be getting much ice-time at pivot. Marquardt isn't necessarily a solid center, but are you really going to see much having Hall take over for a couple shifts on the fourth line?